Wylie & The Wild West – Paradise

Wylie Gustafson and his band continue to celebrate all things western. Their seventh album draws upon western swing, cowboy balladry, honky-tonk, shades of Bakersfield country, and even dashes of rockabilly. Based in the state of Washington, Wylie and his cohorts conjure up the richly varied landscapes of the whole of the West, not just odes to the Texas prairie.

Over the course of his career, Gustafson has grown into an ever more resilient songwriter, crafting tunes that stand nicely beside those of his forebears. His eight originals here range from the low-key fun of “Hooked On Honky Tonk” to the lilting saunter of the title track. Wylie is also a convincing interpreter of other people’s songs, something he’s proven quite conclusively and in greater numbers on earlier releases. His vocal on Bob Dylan’s “Girl From The North Country” is positively gorgeous, offering up the song with a simple and haunting allure.

Paradise is alive with character and warmly produced. Gustafson makes this music breathe in the moment; it’s no mere museum piece or nostalgia trip. And, the guy can yodel up a storm.